Screening is a way to evaluate people without symptoms to determine if they are at risk for cancer or have already developed cancer. Screening involves:

Assessing your medical history and lifestyle habits that may increase or decrease your risk of bladder cancer

Using tests to identify early signs of bladder cancer

Screening Guidelines

There are no official screening guidelines for bladder cancer. Testing is only recommended for people who are experiencing symptoms that may suggest bladder cancer. People who smoke should be advised to stop. They should also be informed of their increased risk of bladder cancer and other serious disease.

Some experts think that people with a higher-than-normal risk of bladder cancer should be periodically screened. These include the following groups of people:

Heavy smokers

People who have worked in jobs that exposed them to known
bladder cancer-causing agents

People who have previously had bladder cancer

People with certain birth defects of the bladder

If you are at increased risk, you may be advised to have periodic testing:

Urinalysis—testing of a sample of your urine to check for the presence of blood

Urine cytology—microscopic examination of a sample of your urine to look for the presence of cancer cells

Cystoscopic examination—examination of the inside of your bladder using a tiny, fiberoptic tube with a light on the end that is passed through your urethra and into your bladder

Screening is not 100% effective in diagnosing or excluding cancer. If you develop
symptoms
that suggest cancer, even after a negative screening test, you should contact your doctor for an evaluation.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for bladder cancer. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality website. Available at
http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/uspsblad.htm
. Updated August 2011. Accessed June 6, 2013.

What you need to know about bladder cancer. National Cancer Institute website. Available at
http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/wyntk/bladder
. Updated August 30, 2010. Accessed June 5, 2013.